Worker dies in Fuyao forklift accident: What we know now

The identity of the forklift operator killed Tuesday at Fuyao Glass America Inc. has been identified as Ricky Patterson, 57, of Dayton, according to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.

The Fuyao worker died of blunt force trauma to the head while operating a forklift at the plant at 2801 W. Stroop Road, authorities said. No one else was reported injured in the accident, according to police.

Details of how the worker died have not been released and the "circumstances surrounding the accident" are being investigated, according to a police statement.

UPDATE @ 10:02 a.m.:

A Fuyao official confirmed the incident resulted in the death of an employee, but did not confirm his identity. The investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing, the company said in a statement.

“The hearts and thoughts of Fuyao associates worldwide are with the employee’s family at this difficult time,” the company said in a statement.

Fuyao has activated its Employee Assistance Program and responders are available to talk and counsel employees.

UPDATE @ 9:53 a.m.:

An OSHA spokesman told this news organization that OSHA has open an investigation into the fatality incident at Fuyao Glass. OSHA will not have any further information until OSHA completes their investigation, the spokesman said.

UPDATE @ 9:48 a.m.:

A forklift operator of Fuyao Glass America Inc. was killed this morning in an accident at the Moraine plant, according to Moraine police.

INITIAL REPORT:

The Montgomery County Coroner been requested to Fuyao Glass America, Inc. in Moraine after a reported forklift accident Tuesday morning.

Here’s what we know now:

EARLY REPORTS: Initial reports indicate the incident was dispatched around 5:20 a.m. to 2801 W. Stroop Road with one person reportedly unresponsive. Additional details have not been released.

CONTINUED ISSUES Fuyao was cited for alleged safety violations in June 2017, according to the Cincinnati office of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. At that time, OSHA proposed total fines of $37,843, according to a letter to the company from OSHA dated June 12.

OSHA ENFORCEMENT Safety issues have been raised at Fuyao in the past. Last November, OSHA proposed $226,937 in penalties against Fuyao for 23 “serious safety violations and one other-than-serious violation.” The penalties were later resolved between Fuyao and OSHA and the fines were reduced to $100,000.

EMPLOYMENT Since 2014, Chinese industrialist and Fuyao Glass Industry Group Chairman Cho Tak Wong has transformed the former General Motors plant in Moraine into what the company says is the world’s biggest auto glass manufacturing site, with about 2,000 employees.